Marmots cause ruckus in Prosser

By Drew Foster, Herald staff writer

PROSSER -- The uninvited dinner guest didn't bother taking a seat, instead choosing to plant his furry hide on the cafe's floor.

Everyone's heard of the mouse in the kitchen, but this was a marmot in the dining room.

Prosser's marmots have caused headaches for city officials and residents in the past, when they'd boldly lounged on porches or sat by the dozen along Wine Country Road.

On Monday, one of the furry, house cat-sized ground squirrels made its way inside a downtown restaurant, where it was found hiding in a corner.

Monday's "marmot incident," as described by City Administrator Charlie Bush, was a dash of new color splashed on an old canvas. The burrowing critters have long proved to be a nuisance in Prosser, where they dig through gardens, add unwanted mounds to yards and even chew through electrical wires.

Instead of paying a trapper to reduce the marmot population like the city has done in the past, Prosser officials are recommending residents call the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife if they're having marmot problems.

In 2006 and 2007, the city spent thousands -- $5,700 over two years -- to hire trappers to thin the marmot population. But last year, the council decided to get out of the marmot-control business.

"Last year, the council ... did not have the money to fund it," said Bush.

Despite not having the bucks, the city still has the rock chucks.

Yellow-bellied marmots are burrowing animals that live underground and hibernate in the winter. The brown-furred critters are known to dig holes or mounds, which sometimes cause property damage, and sometimes rummage through gardens for food. They've also been known to chew through wire.

"I know there's a lot of marmots in Prosser, there's no question," Bush said. "They're happy marmots. They're fat, they're having a good time."

Ted Clausing, regional wildlife program manager in Fish and Wildlife's Yakima office, said marmot populations tend to surge around June, after they've emerged from hibernation and nurtured the year's litter.

"They are really prolific when they're in an area that's protected," he said. "They're really visible in the spring and summer."

Many of the city's marmots can be found along Wine Country Road, on either the east or north end of Prosser.

Monday's marmot incident, however, proved the animals may be expanding their turf.

After wandering through one restaurant's front door, the critter was discovered hiding in a corner. Bush said several people helped build a makeshift channel out of advertising signs, and with some gentle prodding, the animal sprinted to freedom.

"It just took off like a shot," Bush said.

So far this year, Bush has heard no formal complaints from residents about marmots.

The number for the Fish and Wildlife Yakima office is 509-575-2740.

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Wednesday, Jun. 24, 2009

Marmots cause ruckus in Prosser

By Drew Foster, Herald staff writer